Come to think of it, Riran said she was participating in the obstacle race too. I have to cheer for her properly.
When I went in front of the cheering section, the people participating in the obstacle race were just entering.
I traced the red thread to find Riran’s figure.
Hmm... oh, there she is. As expected, that blonde hair really stands out.
Maybe Riran found me by following the red thread too, because she gave a small, embarrassed peace sign.
Good luck, Riran. I’m rooting for you.
“Hey, Sanada-kun! You’re on the Blue team right now! Cheer for the Blue team!”
Gueh. Yakushiji-senpai, please don’t shout so loudly...!
“Ah, good luck to you too, Yakushiji-senpai.”
“Don’t cheer for me like an afterthought!”
Please don’t shout so loudly.
“Ugh! Akito is cheering for me! I won’t even forgive Yakushiji-senpai for this!”
“Right now it’s a team battle, and Sanada-kun is on the Blue team! So it’s only natural for him to cheer for the Blue team!”
Yada yada, blah blah.
Uhm, yeah, please stop acting like you’re fighting over me in front of so many people. It’s seriously embarrassing.
Watching this, Ryūya looked over with a smirk.
“Akito, you’ve really been taken a liking to by that Demon President.”
“I haven’t done anything to be liked, though.”
“That person likes serious students. But being too serious is also no good. You have to know when to relax properly and be interesting.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about...”
Where is the element in me that would be liked?
“If you’re saying that, you’re usually interesting, so she should like you.”
“I’m no good. I’m too frivolous.”
“You’re aware of it?”
“Yeah. I know myself better than anyone.”
“It sounds cool in writing, but the reason is just trash.”
I turned my eyes from Ryūya back to the obstacle race.
The obstacles set up for the girls were a four-tier vaulting box, three hurdles, a balance beam, and finally a net crawl.
By the way, for the boys, it apparently becomes a seven-tier vaulting box and the hurdles increase to five.
Since I don’t know anyone else in those heats, I don’t have anyone particular to cheer for.
“Is it starting with the first-years...? Oh? Akito, it’s Kuonji.”
“Yeah.”
Among the six people lined up, Riran was on the far outside.
She looked stiff, maybe because she was nervous.
“On your marks, get set...”
Bang!
With the signal from the Sports Festival Executive Committee, the six of them started running.
The first obstacle was the vaulting box. Since it was only four tiers, it was a size even an elementary schooler could jump over.
One person jumped, then another, and then Riran—
“U-um. Huh? Uh, right foot, left foot... hmm?”
...That girl, she forgot which foot to take off with and stopped.
Ah, she went back.
She took a sufficient distance and resumed her approach.
With a leisurely run-up, she finally jumped using the take-off board!
Pof.
...She landed right on top of the four-tier vaulting box.
It’s kind of cute.
However, Riran didn’t give up, climbed down the box, and started running.
The next obstacle was the three hurdles. They were all set low, so if it's this...
Crash!!
...She fell. Spectacularly.
Even so, the undaunted Riran headed toward the balance beam next.
Do your best, do your best, Riran.
Whoa, her sense of balance is really bad. If she falls from there, it’ll hurt...!
Whoa-whoa, I can’t watch...!
Oh... ohhh! She made it across!
Even though she only cleared one thing, a thunderous applause echoed.
Riran seemed to regain her confidence from that, as she psyching herself up with a 'mun' and headed to the next part.
The net crawl. This should be fine just by crawling through, but... because of her development that was far beyond a high schooler's, she kept getting caught over and over.
Wait, at this rate, Riran will be put on display...!
Then, at that moment. A sudden gust of wind stirred up a cloud of dust.
Perhaps it got in their eyes, because groans rose from everywhere.
Furthermore.
“Hey boys, don’t look!”
“That girl is Sanada-kun’s fated person!”
“She’s not the kind of girl you guys are allowed to look at!”
First, second, and third-year girls became a shield to protect Riran from any impure gazes.
In that opening, Riran finished crawling through the net and headed straight for the goal.
She reached the goal much later than the others, but she looked like she was having fun.
“She’s really loved, isn’t she?”
“With Riran’s beauty, it’s only natural.”
“No, I think she’s loved this much because she’s a set with you. Besides, that gust of wind just now definitely wasn’t a coincidence.”
...Maybe so.
Riran turned toward me with a smile and gave a full-faced peace sign.
I smiled back and returned the peace sign.
Well done. You worked hard, Riran.
“Regardless, Akito. Your range of expressions was hilarious. I’ll show you the photos later.”
“Don’t take pictures of me.”
By the way, afterward, Yakushiji-senpai showed physical abilities so incredible I wondered if she was really a high schooler, and reached the goal with a massive lead.
“Hey, isn’t my treatment a bit too blunt!?”
It’s just your imagination.